IT'S ABOUT TIME, SHE SAYS . . .

I know, it's been awhile.  I sort of took the summer off.  Not actually planned, it just seemed like there was a lot going on and I didn't get into my studio nearly as much as I would have liked to.

Part of my 'excuse' was a 6 week camping trip through parts of Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico.  It was a great trip. We got to see family, friends, and a lot of very beautiful country.  We didn't get to see everyone, or everything we wanted to, but we felt fortunate to see who and what we did.  

I thought I would share a few fun things from the trip with you this time. 

'THE LOOK'

6 x 6" Acrylic on canvas

(I both gave, and received this look, numerous times on this trip!)

  

'POTATO FAIRY' 

A potato plant I found in the woods was hugging a Cactus, 'Eves Pin', a Desert plant that is originally from the Peruvian Andes. This was in amongst Pines, Alligator Junipers and who knows what else.  Wouldn't the history of how these two met be interesting.  :)

'THE GATHERING'

Doesn't it look like she is just extending her arms, offering  protection.

Chiricahua, National Monument,  AZ

'THE BUTT TREE'

'LOVERS'

New Mexico trees just seem to be very 'expressive'.  ;)

HUBCAP ART

How about a little Hubcap Art from Silver City, N.M. 

This planter wound around a small corner park outside a Gallery downtown.  Note reflection of the building across the street in the last hubcap.

'THE SKULL'

Sounds like a 60's TV Show.

This what welcomes you to town in Hall, MT.

(the whole tree is actually covered in various and creepy (sorry, no getting around it . . . just creepy!) skulls.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?

Dolores, CO.  I'm not sure what this is going to be when it grows up.  Truck? Bus? Train?

UH . . . O.K. I GET THE HINT!

No, he really didn't want his picture taken!

Devils Canyon Campground, N.M

CREATE

We took a hike in an almost empty campground up in the mountains outside of Durango, CO.  This little gem was on a path down to the river.  No one was around, just a little 'creative' surprise, someone left for others to enjoy.

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CLOUDS OF THE DAY . . .

This was the sky that welcomed us back to Ajo the day we arrived home from our trip.  Take your choice . . . rain or sun?  Obviously the Weather Angels were having some discord as to whose turn it was to plan the weather for the day.

Unfortunately we were turning into the rain. 

'The Beauty of Butterflies

is that they allow us to dance with them'

4 x 4" Mixed Media Collage

I hope the rest of your day is great!

Charleen

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

THIS COULD EASILY BE THE QUILT CLUB IN AJO . . .

'MEETING OF THE QUILT CLUB GONE AWRY'

6 x 6" Mixed Media Collage

This little piece is currently hangin' out at the Sonoran Desert Inn and Conference Centers small Gift shop here in Ajo. If you  ever think about coming down this way, this would be a lovely place to stay. 

CLOUDS OF THE DAY . . .

So, a friend said to me just before Christmas "I got you something for Christmas that I know you don't have."  Of course, no hints were given and I did have to wait until Christmas to find out if she was right.  She was. My gift was the book 'A Cloud A Day' by Gavin Pretor-Pinney.  It's a wonderful book filled with amazing photos of the sky and clouds, along with some wonderful artwork depicting the same.

I didn't have a clue that there was such a thing as the ' Cloud Appreciation Society', nevermind that they have over 40,000 members from all over the world!  

If you are interested in joining, just google (or Bing-it or DuckDuckGo it, or use whatever your favorite search engine is) at cloudappreciationsociety.org.  The Book is full of smiles.  If you think some of my cloud interpretations are funny, you should see some of what is in this book.  Be ready to smile.  And, be ready to learn. The book is full of a lot of good information too.

I am now member #41,685. :)  

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My Cloud of the Day . . . (and it is one of mine, not from the book!)

Hades, Greek God of the Dead

Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream by night.

~ edgar allen poe

Hopefully I'm back on track now so I should see you soon!

Charleen

LET'S RAVE!

CAN YOU IMAGINE THESE GUYS OUT ON A DANCE FLOOR?  PICTURE IT.  THE DJ (another raven of course) BLARING THE MUSIC AND THESE CHARACTERS  STRUTTING THEIR STUFF.  I FEEL A PAINTING COMING ON!  :)

                                                        sold

"THE LAST THING THAT BLEW MY MIND WAS THE WIND."

"I KNOW IT'S 5 O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE!"

"WHADDA YA MEAN THERE'S SOMEONE BEHIND ME?"

These pieces are all 6 x 6
and can be found on my website at
www.charleenmartin.com

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CLOUDS OF THE DAY . . .

At first I thought this bright blue guy was a Sun dog (mock sun/parhelion) but upon looking it up, a Sun dog is normally on the same level as the sun.   So . . . I can't answer your questions about what it actually is, but I thought it very interesting and so I am sharing it.  If you have any thoughts, please let me know.

And now, a real dog . . .

This is Gus, and when Gus isn't busy sunbathing, he is usually running in circles chasing baby geckos.  He hasn't learned yet that they are just way too fast for him.

After going in circles chasing a gecko around that tree stump, (that gecko had to be toying with him!) he's pensively waiting for the gecko to make another appearance.  'Determined.'

Have a great week . . .

Charleen

DO YOU REMEMBER THE SPIRIT GUIDES WE FOUND ALL OVER AJO LAST SEASON WHEN WE WERE HERE ...?

WELL, HERE ARE TWO NEW ONES WE JUST FOUND LAST WEEK AS WE DROVE AROUND AJO RECONFIRMING :) OUR DECISION TO SPEND OUR WINTERS HERE.  i THINK THERE WAS SOMETHING LIKE OVER 80 LAST SEASON!

BECAUSE I REALLY DON'T HAVE A STUDIO AT THE MOMENT MY WORK TIME/SPACE IS SOMEWHAT LIMITED AT THE MOMENT.  WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE STUDIO SPACE (AS A FRIEND SAID ... OUR SHABBY CHIC WHITE HOUSE WITH THE HUMMINGBIRD FEEDER!) ALMOST DAILY.  THE INSIDE IS NOW AT LEAST HALF GUTTED. (yes, this is a BIG job!)  TODAY, FOUNDATION REPAIR WORK IS BEING DONE.  ANYWAY, I DID MANAGE TO GET A FEW RAVEN PIECES DONE SPECIFICALLY FOR A GALLERY DOWN HERE CALLED 'THE RAVENS NEST-AVITA BOUTIQUE'.  I HAD SPOKEN WITH THE OWNER JUST BEFORE WE LEFT FOR HOME LAST APRIL ABOUT POSSIBLY CARRYING SOME OF MY WORK.  SHE WAS ESPECIALLY INTERESTED IN, WHAT ELSE (!) MY RAVENS. SO, I AM PLEASED TO SAY SHE NOW HAS 7 OF MY RAVEN PIECES IN HER GALLERY.  THIS FELLOW BELOW IS ONE OF THEM ...

'HE WHO LISTENS.  SOMETIMES.'

6 x 6" Acrylic over Acrylic Pour

THE RAVENS NEST GALLERY-AVITA BOUTIQUE

AJO, AZ.

A CLOSE-UP OF THE RAVEN ON THE BUILDING

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CLOUDS OF THE DAY . . .

NOT REALLY ANY CLOUDS BUT THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE THIS AJO SUNSET WITH YOU.  THIS WAS TAKEN 2 NIGHTS AGO, JUST FROM THE OUTER EDGE OF TOWN.  I LOVE THE SUNSETS (AND SUNRISES) HERE.  THEY ARE A TREAT FOR US BECAUSE IN IDAHO WE ARE SURROUNDED BY MOUNTAINS.  WE DON'T SEE MANY SUNRISES OR SUNSETS.

I believe cats to be spirits come to earth.

 A cat, I am sure, could walk on a cloud without coming through. 

~ jules verne

Charleen

SOMEONE TOOK GROUCHY PILLS ...

"WHO ATE HIS CRACKERS ...?"

12 X 12" Mixed Media Collage on Wood Panel

For more information on this Piece Please Click HERE

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CLOUDS OF THE DAY . . .

photo  ~ Indy Behrendt

I had to take my work up to Entrée Gallery in Nordman last Friday.  They will be opening for the Season on Mothers Day weekend.  It was an absolutely beautiful day for a drive (good thing, as the drive from my home to the Gallery is a 3 hour drive each way! :)  The sky was a beautiful blue and the clouds put on a spectacular show.  A friend came along for the ride and she and I had a great time stopping, photographing and laughing about 'what we saw' in the clouds.  Indy is a photographer (and Silversmith) in real life so she had a good eye for all the sky action.  She took the above photo.   Can you see it?!  The Terrier ... running.  :)  She saw it immediately.  I have to admit I didn't see it until she told me, but of course now I can't see anything else!

“A dog teaches a boy fidelity, perseverance, and to turn around three times before lying down.”  ~  Robert Benchley

Charleen

DAY 8 IS LITERALLY FOR THE BIRDS ...

You thought I was kidding?!  

'CONVERSATIONS IN TIME'

5 x 7" Mixed Media collage on Wood Panel

For more information on this Piece Please Click HERE

I decided to take a break fom Painting and do a few Collage pieces.  The Air Mail stamp is an oldie (7 cents!), sent to me by a friend whose Father use to collect stamps.  The seal on the lower left is an actual seal from a property deed. The 'Post Card' is a copy of one from the 40's and the Asian Newspaper is about 30 years old from San Franciscos Chinatown.  


          No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings.

                                                                             ~ William Blake

*********************************************************************************

I see Godzilla.  :/

Charleen

HAPPY NEW YEAR !

A LITTLE WHIMSY TO END THE YEAR ...

'WATCH OUT BOYS ... THERE'S A NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN'

6 x 6 x 1.5" Mixed Media Collage on Canvas

For more information on this piece Please Click HERE

Cloud of the Day ...

I have to admit ... this one is a little hard to see.  But, I do see a Cat, lying down with its tail up in the air.  :)   There are a lot of formations in this photo so you may do better than me.  

I want to say Thank you to everyone for your support this last year.  It's so great having friends 'out there' ... some of whom I've never met.  I want to wish you all a most 

HEALTHY AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

TIL NEXT YEAR ...

CHARLEEN

" Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions.                        Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual."                                                                                                  ~  Mark Twain

HERE A TOTE, THERE A TOTE, EVERYWHERE A TOTE ... I WISH!

I'm pleased to be able to show you my new Tote Bags produced through Fine Art America.  They've produced prints for me for a while but not too long ago they added Tote Bags to their product line.  I finally had the time to sit down and decide what pieces I thought might be fun as Tote Bags.  The Bags are available in three sizes and the turn-around-time is fairly quick.  If you click the link below it will take you to the main page.  You can then click on whichever photos you like and it will show you what is available in that Design.  

Http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/charleen-martin.html

In the meantime here are a few of the Designs I chose ...

THE BLUES SISTERS: MONDAY MORNING CHAT

  

ARE WE IN ... OR ARE WE OUT?

TWO SISTERS: THE ADVICE II

 and as a throw pillow . . .

SOMETIMES WE JUST WANT TO BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION

 and as a pillow . . .

THE BACKSIDE OF LIFE

RUSSELL CROWE . . . WHERE ARE YOU?

(Russell Crowe once said he liked to sit and talk to his cows :)

There are a few more Designs besides these but this will at least give you an idea. 

"Fashion is what you're offered four times a year by designers.
                                             And style is what you choose." 
                                                                   ~  Lauren Hutton

Charleen

FROM THE IDAHO STUDIO of CHARLEEN MARTIN

“Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter, 

In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore."

Edgar Allen Poe  (The Raven)

GUARDIAN OF HISTORY

6 x 6 x 1.5"  on Textured Canvas

This is Texture, then Paint, then Collage and then the Raven painted on top.  The background has an irridescent glow to it. 

I love painbting Ravens.  There is just so much personality involved.  

For more information on this Piece Please Click  Here

The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.

Michaelangelo

Charleen

RED STEPS OUT. THE BLONDE STAYED HOME.

'RED STEPS OUT'

Above is 'Red Steps Out'.  This is a new Piece I just finished and packaged to go up to Entree Gallery for their Seasonal Opening on Mothers Day.  I'm the Blonde.  :)  And, yes, I've been home, diligently working in my Studio trying to finish what needs to be done.  I've actually had a good past few weeks.  Everyone here knows I'm a little under the gun trying to meet my goals for work to take up there so they've pretty much left me to myself.  

This is another new piece ...

It's called 'THE ISLAND LIFE' 

For more information on either of these Pieces Please Click  HERE

And ... a large Collage that I just finished ...

THE BLUES SISTERS: MONDAY MORNING CHAT

This is a 24 x 30 Collage on a Wood Panel.  More information can be found HERE

And then there is this funny little Guy.  He's just 6 x 6" and one of a few smaller Pieces that I managed to get done.  I've had that background for ages.  I guess it was just waiting for the right smile to come along.  :)

"STOP AND SMELL THE  ... UH ... DAISIES"

More information on him can be found HERE

Tomorrow I head up to Nordman to bring my work to Entree Gallery.  It's about a 3.5 hour drive from here so I usually make a two day trip out of it and stay with friends that have a beautiful home on the Pend Oreille (pronounced Ponderay)  River.  Yesterday and today were absolutely gorgeous out and, of course, the next two days are suppose to be rainy.  Guess I'll just have to put my Rain Smile on.

Charleen

"THE WAY I SEE IT, IF YOU WANT THE RAINBOW

 YOU GOTTA PUT UP WITH THE RAIN."  

                               

                                                  ~  Dolly Parton

WHERE'S THE EGGS?!!

In the fridge where they will probably remain until tomorrow when I take them out and make Deviled Eggs for Sunday!  :/  No little ones here or close by anymore so I haven't colored eggs in years.  I keep thinking about it.  Seems like it should still be a tradition ~ just for the fun.  I actually did see something online the other day.  It was a new, (to me) old way of dyeing eggs.  You cut small pieces of old silk scarves into small squares, (thrift store finds work) wrap the eggs in the silk and then re-wrap in white fabric (like gauze), tie with a twist tie, and drop (well ... not literally drop) into a pan of water.  Add 3 tbsp. of white vinegar and then boil for 15 minutes.  Take out, let cool, and unwrap.  Voila!  Colored Eggs without the mess.  

I actually hadn't intended to go into all that detail but maybe someone just might want to try that.  If you do, Please let me know the results.  :)

AFTER AN EARLY SEPTEMBER RAIN

6 x 6" Acrylic on Textured Wood Panel

For more information on this Piece Please Click HERE

I've been busy working on mostly small pieces like above.  I think I have enough done for my upcoming showing at Entree Gallery.  Now I have to get serious and work on some bigger pieces.  I've been enjoying the small pieces so much that it's hard to get my mind wrapped around 'bigger'.  There is that 'immediate gratification' with the small works.  Done in a day ~ you get to see the results immediately. It can become addictive and maybe that is why there are so many Artists out there now with Daily Painting sites.

THE NIGHT WHISPERS IN COLOR

5 x 7" Acrylic on Textured Wood Panel

For more information on this Piece Please Click HERE

This is a little larger Piece recently finished ....

INTENSE EXPECTATIONS  (SOLD!)

12 x 12" Acrylic on Cradled Wood Panel

I hope you all have a WONDERFUL EASTER ... Full of New Beginnings!  

How do Bunnies stay healthy?

Eggs-ercise!     (Sorry, I couldn't resist!  :)

til next Time ...

Charleen